HDDs and SSDs also have a useful life. Generally, it is called “lifetime”. HDDs and SSDs naturally deteriorate with the frequency of use, environment, and the passage of time. Keep in mind that it will eventually become unusable due to a breakdown. And it’s important to be prepared before troubles occur frequently and can’t be solved. Therefore, this content explains useful life of HDDs and SSDs.

Index
1. Difference in useful life between HDDs and SSDs
2. What affects useful life of HDDs and SSDs?
3. Conclusion

・1. Difference in useful life between HDDs and SSDs
No matter how you use an HDD or an SSD, the longer you use it, the closer it is to failure. However, an actual useful life varies depending on how it is used. Generally, it is said that an HDD is about 3 years and an SSD is about 5 years or more. Although, there are more than that, depending on performance of the drive and the intended use. One of the reasons why SSDs are generally considered to have a longer useful life than HDDs is that SSDs have fewer drive parts than HDDs.
This usage period is just a guide, and some may break in less than 3 or 5 years. It is important to be prepared so that you will not be in a panic when it breaks.

・2. What affects useful life of HDDs and SSDs?
What affects the useful life of HDDs and SSDs? It is a shock. For example, many HDD hardware problems (physical damages) are caused by a defect between a needle called a magnetic head that reads and writes data and a disk called a platter. There is only a few nanometers between the magnetic head and the platter. Since the equipment is so precisely assembled, it is quite possible that even a slight impact easily damages it.
An SSD has a characteristic that the number of writes affects the deterioration. Saving, replacing, and initializing data can be a major factor in shortening the useful life. In addition to shortening the useful life, it also affects the transfer speed.
Startup of a PC also can be a cause to shortening the useful life. When a PC starts up, an HDD and SSD are heavily burdened. It is important to note that frequently starting and shutting down a PC to save power shortens the useful life of an HDD or an SSD.

・3. Conclusion
HDDs and SSDs are consumables. Many things that cause breakdowns, such as shock, heat, and static electricity, are hidden in our daily lives. By taking care of your HDD or SSD every day, you can take measures such as backing up before it becomes irreparable. It should also be a guide for when to replace your PC.
Since usually an HDD or an SSD containing important data, it is recommended that you are prepared in case of emergency, while paying attention to how to use it so that its useful life will be extended as much as possible.